Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5400’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 5400’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; single white and red purple bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 5400’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5100’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,772

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5200’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,786

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 5300’

Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/602,773

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 5400’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2011 of a unnamed selection of Helleborus x ericsmithii, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in December, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by divisions in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since March, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 5400’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 5400’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single white and red purple bi-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are taller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have white and red purple bi-         colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection         have cream-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have fewer leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5100’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5100’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have white and red purple bi-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5100’ have light yellow green and red purple to greyed purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5200’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have white and red purple bi-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5200’ have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 5300’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 5300’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have white and red purple bi-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘COSEH 5300’ have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘Anna's Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘Anna's Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Helleborus have less distinct         venation than leaves of plants of ‘Anna's Red’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are white and red         purple bi-colored whereas flowers of plants of ‘Anna's Red’ are         red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 5400’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘COSEH 5400’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during December in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were 14 months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus x ericsmithii X Helleborus x     hybridus ‘COSEH 5400’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             ericsmithii, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and             mounding plant habit with flowers held within and above the             foliar plane; plant shape, roughly broadly ovate; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 29.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 46.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 53.3 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 20.6 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 21.8 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 12.9 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Obovate to broadly elliptic.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Coarsely serrate; coarsely undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             143A; midvein tinged proximally, close to 178A. Developing             leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146B; midvein tinged with             close to 183B. Fully developed leaflets, upper surface:             Slightly darker than NN137A; venation, close to 147B. Fully             developed leaflets, lower surface: Close to 144B and towards             the base, close to 183A; venation, close to 187A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 18.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to             8 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145A; densely covered with fine             dots, close to 183B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Single rotate flowers; flowers             slightly to moderately cupped; arranged solitary or in             clusters with about nine flowers each; freely flowering             habit with about 72 flowers developing per plant; flowers             slightly nodding to facing outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower during the winter into             the late winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals             persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 145D and distally, tinged with close to 64C             to 64D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 46.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 20.1 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.3 cm by 7.3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.3 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 3 cm.             Shape: Broadly elliptic to broadly obovate, slightly to             moderately concave. Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base:             Truncate to broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly to             moderately undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 145D and distally, close to 145C;             towards the margins and apex, close to 64D. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 145C and distally, close to 145B;             towards the margins and apex, close to 60D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 157A and distally, close to 145D;             towards the margins and apex, close to 64B; venation, close             to 64B; with development, colors becoming closer to 145D and             towards the margins and apex, strongly tinged with close to             186C and outer edge, close to 64A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 157A and distally, close to 145D; towards             the margins and apex, close to 64A; venation, close to 64A;             with development, colors becoming closer to 157B, towards             the margins, strongly tinged with close to 70B, towards the             apex, close to between 71A and N186D and venation, close to             70A.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape: Ovate to             broadly ovate. Apex: Acute to emarginate. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Distally, finely serrate and proximally, entire.             Color, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to             187B. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close             to 187B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 39.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to             9 mm. Aspect: About 15° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to between 145C and 150D; heavily and finely             dotted, close to 183C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: About 25° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:             Close to 145C, finely dotted with close to 199B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 70.             Filament length: About 1.1 cm. Filament color: Close to             157A. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform; basifixed.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: Close to             145C. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 4D to lighter than 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             About five, occasionally six or seven. Pistil length: About             1.4 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma shape:             Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157A. Style length:             About 1.3 cm. Style color: Close to 186B. Ovary color: Close             to between 145D and 150D. Nectaries (transformed petals):             Quantity per flower: About 9 to 13. Length: About 1.1 cm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular, slightly flattened.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, immature, inner surface:             Close to N144D. Color, immature, outer surface: Close to             N144D; basal spot, close to 144A. Color, mature, inner             surface: Close to N144A and distally, close to N144B; with             development, close to N144C and distally, close to 151B to             151C. Color, mature, outer surface: Close to N144A and             distally, close to N144B; basal spot, close to N148B; with             development, close to N144C and distally, close to 151B to             151C; basal spot, close to 152C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 5400’ as illustrated and described. 